strange figures who, unbeknownst to him, are the ghosts of Maria's dead suitors. Act 3 Douglas arrives at Black Rock for his duel with Ratcliff. The two strange figures who have been following Ratcliff briefly appear and then disappear. When Ratcliff arrives, Douglas realises that he is the knight who had saved him from the bandits, and when he gets the better of Ratcliff in the duel refuses to kill him. Ratcliff is left lying on the ground where he is again visited by the ghostly figures. Act 4 In her room, Maria is preparing for her wedding to Douglas. Her nurse, Margherita, tells Maria the story of her mother Elisa's death. Before she married MacGregor, Elisa had been in love with Edward, Guglielmo Ratcliff's father, but both married others. Edward and Elisa later realised their mistake and became lovers. When MacGregor found out, he murdered Edward, and Elisa died from grief. Gugliemo Ratcliff then bursts into Maria's room covered in blood from his unsuccessful duel with Douglas and begs Maria to run away with him. With her mother's story still on her mind and thinking that she might be making the same mistake, Maria at first feels pity for Guglielmo, but then asks him to leave. Her refusal drives Guglielmo mad. He kills both Maria and her father who rushes into the room after hearing her calls for help. Ratcliff then commits suicide. The opera ends with his dying words "O Maria, vengo a te! Son qui, soave Maria!" (Oh Maria, I'm coming to you. I'm here my sweet Maria!). References Notes Sources External links Complete libretto in Italian 1895 operas Italian-language operas Operas Operas by Pietro Mascagni Operas based on plays